Pesto is traditionally made with Parmesan cheese, so we’ve found a delicious dairy-free version with this vegan pesto recipe that’s packed with flavour!
Like any parent trying something new, I made this vegan pesto and fed it to the children before telling them what was in it. My 13-year-old asked for seconds — she’s a great little foodie. My picky 4-year-old, who loves garlic, spread it on toast and ate the whole slice. That’s a big win for such a particular eater!
In place of Parmesan cheese, this recipe uses raw almonds, which are a great match for the texture. Kale stands in for basil, which is really a summer herb — so when basil is back in season, feel free to swap it in instead. It’s handy to have a substitute either way.
You may also enjoy: 7 Delicious Vegan Dinner Recipes Your Family Will Love
Vegan Pesto Recipe
Ingredients
- 5 large fronds of clean raw kale, including the stalks (curly or flat leaf both work)
- 5 medium cloves of garlic, peeled
- 100g raw almonds (skin-on gives extra texture)
- 50ml sunflower oil
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
Method
1. Cut the kale into chunks about the size of the palm of your hand, so it fits into the blender more easily.
2. Put all the ingredients into the food processor and pulse or blitz until you reach your preferred pesto consistency.
3. We’d recommend blending it quite fine, as larger chunks of kale can be a bit of a surprise for the palate.
4. Serve over pasta, in wraps and sandwiches, or simply smeared on toast!
This recipe, and more, is available on Wholesome Ireland.
You may also enjoy: 14 Sneaky Ways to Get Vegetables into Kids’ Meals
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use basil instead of kale?
Yes. Kale is used here because basil is a summer herb and not always available, but when basil is in season you can swap it in for a more traditional pesto flavour.
Does this recipe contain nuts?
Yes, it uses raw almonds in place of Parmesan cheese, so it’s not suitable for anyone with a nut allergy.
Is this pesto dairy-free?
Yes — the almonds replace the Parmesan cheese found in traditional pesto, making this a fully dairy-free version.
How can I serve this pesto?
It works well stirred through pasta, spread in wraps and sandwiches, or simply smeared on toast.
Related Articles
- 7 Delicious Vegan Dinner Recipes Your Family Will Love
- 14 Sneaky Ways to Get Vegetables into Kids’ Meals
- More family-friendly recipes on MyKidsTime
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